Trinidad Lighthouses and Memorial Park

On the Head & Overlooking the Bay

On Trinidad Head, the tower's fourth-order Fresnel lens was lit December 1, 1871. A Victorian keeper's residence was built and in 1898 a fog signal was set up. The 4000 pound signal bell was so loud that it shook apart the ringing mechanism and the whole thing fell into the sea.

A fact not known to many is the highest wave ever recorded struck in Trinidad on December 31, 1913. Lighthouse Keeper, Fred Harrington, was performing his duties in the lighthouse perched 196 feet above sea level during a ferocious winter storm. As he turned to wipe the lantern room windows, he observed "a sea of unusual height". In his words, " The sea itself fell onto the top of the bluff and struck the tower on a level with the balcony, making a terrible jar." The spray flew forty feet above the crest. The lens was thrown off level by the wave but the plucky Mr. Harrington had the light back in operation in a half an hour. Harrington also recorded observing waves crashing over nearby Pilot Rock (103 feet) - known as "a perfect 10 over Pilot" these days.

Overlooking Trinidad Bay, an accurate replica of the Head's lighthouse used to anchor Trinidad Bay Memorial Park. In 1947, the original lens and bell were donated to the Trinidad Civic Club to be displayed in a memorial park overlooking Trinidad Bay. Mrs. Earl Hallmark donated land, and in 1949 the Civic Club built the Trinidad Bay Memorial Park and Memorial Lighthouse. On Memorial Day, families and friends gather at the Memorial to remember and honor those lost and buried at sea. Dave Zebo, a former Mayor of Trinidad, made a generous donation so the bell would ring at noon each day in their memory. In 1998, Tom Odom, a former Mayor of Trinidad, and community volunteers installed a new stainless steel dome. In 2006, Dean Heyenga, another former Mayor of Trinidad, was seen out in the fog painting the lighthouse for the Memorial Day tribute. The Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse was temporarily moved from the Park, to the Trinidad Harbor area in January 2018 for protection. Trinidad Bay Memorial Park is lovingly maintained by the Trinidad Civic Club and community supporters.

Viewing of the Trinidad Bay Memorial Park is free, 24 hours daily. On the first Saturday each month and in June during Trinidad's annual Fish Festival, the Trinidad Museum Society and U. S. Coast Guard make the original Trinidad Head Lighthouse available for tours at no cost. The Trinidad Head Lighthouse also can be seen at a distance from a volunteer-built viewing platform located off the Trinidad Head trail, south of the granite cross which commemorates the 1775 landing of the Spanish. The Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse and Bell are temporarily relocated near the Trinidad Harbor for protection.

Both lighthouses participate in the Lighthouse Passport program sponsored by the U. S. Lighthouse Society. Passports and stamps are available at the Trinidad Museum, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3:00 p.m., May through August, or at the Trinidad Bay Bed and Breakfast Hotel, Noon - 5p daily. Call 707-677-0840 for further information.

finished? goUp[^]

Lighthouses in Trinidad, California

Lighthouse Info	Trinidad Head	Trinidad Memorial
Date of Opening	1871	1949
Built by	U. S. Government on 42 acres	Trinidad Civic Club
Maintained by	U. S. Coast Guard	Trinidad Civic Club & volunteers
Elevation - (lantern)	196'	170'
Lat./Long/	41 03.12' N 124 09.09' W	41 03.53' N 124 08.57' W
Height of Lighthouse	25', masonry over brick	25' replica, concrete
Location	SW facing cliff on Trinidad Head at Coast Guard Station	South facing Memorial Park, City of Trinidad, at Trinity & Edwards Streets
Purpose	Maritime navigational aid, continuous since 1871	Memorial Park monument to those lost or buried at sea.
Operational	Until 1946 with keeper, automated 1946, in service today	Coal oil lantern until electrified in 1942, Fresnel lens replaced by 375 mm refracting beacon 1947
Lens	Coal oil lantern until electrified in 1942, Fresnel lens replaced by 375 mm refracting beacon 1947	Non-operating original 4th Order Fresnel lens in lantern room
Fog bell	4000# bell added 1898, clockwork driven by weights, replaced by compressed air horn in 1942	Bell moved to Trinidad Bay Memorial Park in 1949. Strikes the hour at noon daily.
Accessibility/Fees	Open for free tours conducted by USCG during Trinidad Fish Festival in June, and each first Saturday of the month. Lighthouse is visible from observation platform on Trinidad Head trail built by volunteers. Light visible from Hwy101	Exterior is visible 24 hour, daily; free
Special Notes	On December 31, 1914, the lighthouse was stuck by the highest wave to ever strike the West Coast. The wave extinguished the light 196’ above sea level. The light was returned to service in 4 hours by Lightkeeper F.L. Harrington, keeper 1888-1916.	Services during Memorial Day weekend honoring those lost and buried at sea sponsored by Trinidad Civic Club. California Grand Sweepstakes award given to Trinidad Civic Club in 1949 “Build A Better Community” contest
Cost to build	$20,000 appropriated by Congress, 1866	$30,000

 

Where the Redwoods

Meet the Sea

Triniad Tourism & Lodging Association

P.O. Box 1053

Trinidad, California 95570

707 845 9040

shout@trinidad-ca.com